Monthly Archives: October 2015

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If this is your first time seeing the Weekly Leader, scroll down and read all about it below the line. Then pop back up to the top for next week’s suggestions.

Weekly Leader for the second week in October.

Quote for this week:

“The man who does not read good books is no better than the man who can’t.” –Mark Twain

Mastermind Monday

Leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and problem solvers understand the value of studying the lives of people who have made important contributions to the world. In the 1670’s Sir Isaac Newton wrote in a letter to his friend Robert Hooke saying, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” That is just what reading biographies can do for your family. As a family, make a list this week of some of the biographies you would like to read, and find a time to read out loud together for at least a 1/2 hour per week.

TED Talk Tuesday

This week’s sections is a little different. It’s from TED’s Best of the Web series, and it is a fabulous lecture by influential psychiatrist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl. In it, he explores youth’s universal quest for meaning. It should be a message that resonates immensely through temporal and cultural boundaries, offering some nourishing, intelligent bits to chew on.

*Note — You may not always agree with the perspective of a TED Talk, but rather than shy away from it, use it as an opportunity to explain why you don’t agree.

What’s Up Wednesday

“Drink This Book” — Read about one innovator is doing to help increase the world’s access to potable water.

Think Tank Thursday

“Freedom lies in being bold,” said poet Robert Frost. Talk about what you think it means to be bold, and try to think of a time when you either were bold or wish you had been.

Famous Friday

Jenni and Jody are Christian, homeschooling moms with ten kids between them (ages 1 to 30), including one on the autism spectrum, plus one baby grandchild. Together they host a weekly syndicated parenting radio show, write a weekly newspaper column, freelance for a variety of publications, teach parenting and homeschooling workshops and seminars, speak at conventions and conferences and coach individual families. They are passionate about encouraging and equipping families to Parent On Purpose (POP) with the end result in mind.

Earlier this year, I read a review about a book that promised to show the reader how to declutter and organize once and for all. It was a system that claimed to be so effective that you would never have to do it again. I was curious. What system could possibly be so effective that you have to do it more than once? I have tried a bunch of different organization and cleaning systems in my adult life. I did the FlyLady system years ago. Well, I should say that I TRIED to do the FlyLady system. It wasn’t her system that was a problem. I am sure it was me — I was the problem. It felt too complicated for me, and I couldn’t keep up with it, so I just decided to install this home sound system and clean my own home while dancing to some music.

So I ordered this book that promised permanent organization, probably more out of curiosity than anything else. When it arrived in the Amazon envelope, the first thing I noticed was how small it was. How could a system so entirely life-changing (that’s even part of the book’s long title) be summed up in such a small package?

Jenni Stahlmann is the mom of seven kids (ages 1 to 20) including one on the autism spectrum. She and her husband Matthew homeschool the whole brood. Jenni has been a journalist for more than 20 years, having covered government, business and family issues for a wide range of magazines and newspapers. Currently, she and Jody co-host a weekly syndicated radio show, write a weekly newspaper column and freelance articles and speak at churches, political groups and homeschool conventions about parenting on purpose.

Think Tank Thursday

Famous Friday

Jenni and Jody are Christian, homeschooling moms with ten kids between them (ages 1 to 30), including one on the autism spectrum, plus one baby grandchild. Together they host a weekly syndicated parenting radio show, write a weekly newspaper column, freelance for a variety of publications, teach parenting and homeschooling workshops and seminars, speak at conventions and conferences and coach individual families. They are passionate about encouraging and equipping families to Parent On Purpose (POP) with the end result in mind.

Remember the days when network television aired certain movies once a year, and the whole family gathered around the TV for the annual event? The Sound of Music was one of those, and it was one of my personal favorites. But there was one scene that I remember not liking. It was the scene where Mother Abbess sings Climb Every Mountain to Maria. I thought it was boring, but after reading a kids’ book (of all things), it occurred to me that I missed something profound in that song.

I started reading Surviving the Applewhites at the beginning of this week because it is our book of the month for the Weekly Leader, which will we start again tomorrow, and I could hardly put it down. It was such a fun and inspiring read. No wonder it won the Newbery Medal in 2002!

In the book, the Applewhite dad is directing a local performance of The Sound of Music. References to the songs of the show are sprinkled throughout the story. So last night, after finishing the book, as I was getting ready for bed, I caught myself singing Climb Every Mountain — my very LEAST favorite song on the entire soundtrack.

Jenni Stahlmann is the mom of seven kids (ages 1 to 20) including one on the autism spectrum. She and her husband Matthew homeschool the whole brood. Jenni has been a journalist for more than 20 years, having covered government, business and family issues for a wide range of magazines and newspapers. Currently, she and Jody co-host a weekly syndicated radio show, write a weekly newspaper column and freelance articles and speak at churches, political groups and homeschool conventions about parenting on purpose.

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